Several Pacific Island leaders reached an agreement on Tuesday to prevent the region’s major diplomatic group from splintering.
This comes as China has been increasing diplomatic efforts in the region.
Six Pacific Islands Forum members—Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Palau, and the Marshall Islands—met in Fiji on Tuesday to resolve reform issues stemming from a dispute over the forum’s leadership election last year.
Forum chairman and Fijian Prime minister Frank Bainimarama said in a statement that the proposed reform package would “deepen trust and political cohesion” across the region.
Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe “Frank” Bainimarama attends a meeting on day three of COP26 at SECC in Glasgow, Scotland on Nov. 2, 2021. (Phil Noble/Pool/Getty Images)
All forum leaders will meet in person in Suva between July 12 and 14 to collectively endorse the reform package. FSM President David Panuelo said they would also seek support from Nauru and Kiribati….